ataraxia

[ at-uh-rak-see-uh ]

/ ˌæt əˈræk si ə /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ataraxia ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety; tranquillity.

RELATED WORDS

sedative, opiate

Nearby words

Also at·a·rax·y

[at-uh-rak-see] /ˈæt əˌræk si/.

Origin of ataraxia

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek: calmness, equivalent to atarák(tos) unmoved (a- a-⁶ + tarak-, variant stem of tarássein to disturb + -tos verbid suffix) + -s(is) -sis + -ia -ia

Related formsat·a·rac·tic

[at-uh-rak-tik] /ˌæt əˈræk tɪk/, at·a·rax·ic, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for ataractic

ataractic

ataraxic (ˌætəˈræksɪk)

/ (ˌætəˈræktɪk) /

adjective

able to calm or tranquillize

noun

obsolete an ataractic drug

ataraxia

ataraxy (ˈætəˌræksɪ)

/ (ˌætəˈræksɪə) /

noun

calmness or peace of mind; emotional tranquillity

Word Origin for ataraxia

C17: from Greek: serenity, from ataraktos undisturbed, from a-1 1 + tarassein to trouble

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ataractic

ataractic

adj.

1941, from Greek ataraktos "not disturbed" (see ataraxia) + -ic.

ataraxia

also Englished as ataraxy, "calmness, impassivity," c.1600, from Modern Latin, from Greek ataraxia "impassiveness," from a-, privative prefix, + tarassein (Attic tarattein) "to disturb, confuse," from PIE root *dher- "to make muddy, darken."